ICYMI: 60 Minutes Highlights E&C’s Opioid Investigations

WASHINGTON, DC – Sunday evening, 60 Minutes aired a segment on the opioid epidemic, including a look at the Energy and Commerce Committee’s extensive investigative work to determine the root causes of the #OpioidCrisis.

In addition to earlier investigations, #SubOversight launched a series of investigations into the opioid epidemic in 2017. Those investigations include: fentanyl, a synthetic opioid; alleged pill dumping; patient brokering, and the potential role of opioid manufacturers in the crisis. In addition, the subcommittee has also reviewed various state level responses to the epidemic.

In May 2017, the committee opened an investigation into the distribution of prescription opioids by wholesale drug distributors, with a specific focus on distribution practices in West Virginia, and enforcement practices by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) during the opioid epidemic.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, it is the leading cause of opioid overdose deaths. It is easy and very cheap to illicitly manufacture and has been appearing in communities across the country, mostly coming from China and clandestine labs in Mexico.

Click here to learn more about the committee’s extensive investigative work into the opioid crisis.